Taking the Lord’s name in vain

John Hatcher is pastor of Outreach International Center, 1091 South Jeff Davis Drive, Fayetteville, Georgia 30215. 770-719-0303

By JOHN HATCHER
Contributing Writer

How many times a day do we use the Lord’s name in an empty fashion? “Oh, my God!” I hear it constantly on the extreme makeover TV shows whether it is for the body or the home. They repetitively say, “Oh, my God.” And how many times have you heard someone say in disgust, “My Jesus?”

What’s happening is this: we are using the Lord’s name because we can’t find other words to use. Of course, you know the big one often heard: “G.D.”

But the Big Ten has something to say about using the Lord’s name for any other purpose than one of reference and worship: “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes his name in vain” (Exodus 20:7). It’s the third commandment.

In his book on the Ten Commandments, the late Dr. Roy Honeycutt, former president of Southern Seminary in Louisville, said, “No man can damn the name of the God, reduce Jesus Christ to the level of four-letter vulgarities, and expect his religious life to be unmarred. In smudging the name of the Lord, man leaves an indelible streak upon his own life, as well as his communion with the Lord.”

When we use the Lord’s name in vain, it rings with nothingness, hollowness, and vacancy. To permit this commandment to examine our lives today, we must allow an evaluation of our speech and conversation. You may well pass the test of not using profanity, but would our conversation be that which honors God? Do our words reflect our true religious commitment? I heard someone the other day say, “Dang.” And that same person has a heart after God’s own heart and seeks to follow God in every area of his life. Yet, his conversation has a remnant of vanity.

The way we live our lives may very well reflect a violation of this commandment. We take the Lord’s name in vain when we identify with the church and the blood of Jesus as part of one’s social heritage as opposed to an authentic union with the living Christ. We have a bad case of this sort of thing here in Fayette County. Church all too often becomes one’s social club and country club.

Our various commitments of piety often betray us as violators of the third commandment. Look at us make a commitment at the altar to serve the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Then, look at us as we palm a five dollar bill in the offering plate rather than writing out that rightful check that is 10 percent of our earnings.

Look at us sleep in on Sunday mornings because we were reckless with our time on Saturday night. Look at us fail to volunteer to serve our turn in the nursery because we just don’t want to be bothered. Where would we have been if Christ did not want to be bothered with a cross?

So, O Holy One, don’t pat yourself on the back just because you don’t use the four letter words. Examine your life and your lifestyle in light of the commitments you have made at the altar, in the baptistery, and at the Table of our Lord’s.

The Third Commandment has a haunting addendum: “For the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes his name in vain.” Sorry that I can’t erase that little line from the Bible. It’s been there long before a printing press was invented. It was there before freedom of speech was guaranteed. It’s an equal opportunity promise. God is serious about his name and refuses to let anyone — from preacher to the pew — take his name in vain. So watch what you say to one another and what you say to God at the altar.